It doesn’t take long before you get sick of looking at peeled wallpaper, mouldy sealant, and broken toilet seat, and throw yourself into searching for a new bathroom to replace your dishevelled and dated one.
However, choosing a new washroom design can be difficult, as you don’t want to pick something so on-trend that it feels outdated in a couple of years but, at the same time, you don’t want to play it too safe that it wasn’t worth doing in the first place.
If you are getting a new bathroom installation then here are some designs you might want to consider this year, as these looks are stylish and contemporary, as well as being unlikely to go out of fashion anytime soon.
Separate sinks
Separate sinks might have been popular in the US for decades, due to the extra space they have in their homes, but they are also being seen more in British houses now.
Having a distinct space to shave, wash your face and brush your teeth means couples don’t have to fight over who gets to use the basin or mirror.
According to interior designer Raili Clasen speaking with Good Housekeeping, this gives the feel of a “total personal space experience”.
They suggest putting a bathtub or a vintage coat rack between the sinks to separate them even more and create two distinct areas of the room.
Spa features
People don’t just want their bathrooms to be somewhere they wash their body and go to the loo these days. Instead, they want to create an entire spa experience, with mood lighting, greenery and scented candles.
To make going to the bathroom feel like a spa day with your friends, you could install a steam shower, sauna, or freestanding bathtub. You could even create a wet room or tile from floor to ceiling to make a wet wall, which are both stylish and functional, protecting the plaster from moisture.
Earthy style
The current trend is for the bathroom to look very natural and earthy, helping homeowners feel more relaxed when they are using it.
For instance, natural materials, such as stone and wood, are going to be big this year. They help homeowners get back to nature, particularly when complemented by wicker laundry baskets and matching accessories.
Greens, such as sage or dark green, are also part of this look, as they create an earthy tone. You could opt for a vanity unit in a deep hunter green, paint the walls a soft olive colour, or choose a bold flooring in fern or pine that will bring this look to life.
Energy-saving designs
The eco credentials of the new suite is also as important as the design. So homeowners will be prioritising environmentally friendly showers, toilets, baths and sinks when picking a new washroom in 2024.
They could opt for a thermostatic shower system and dual-flush lavatories that cuts down on the amount of water they use, for instance. Seeing as the average home uses almost 350 litres of water every single day, reducing this can make a huge difference to the amount of water wasted in the UK.
Other appliances that will be popular as they help reduce the amount of energy used in the house include digital and smart showers, restricting the amount of water flow; taps with eco aerators that limit the amount of water that comes out; and smaller capacity bathtubs that do not need as much water to fill.
The latter is ideal for households with children who need bathing every night, as a 1.5m long bath uses 165 litres of water, whereas a 1.8m tub needs 191 litres to fill it.
Another simple way of reducing water usage and helping the environment is swapping your basin for a smaller one when you redo the bathroom.
Pastel pink
Lots of homeowners will be swapping their white tiles for something softer and more feminine this year, as pastel pink is a firm favourite.
Pastel colours are linked with feelings of joy and romance, making people feel optimistic and whimsical when they see them. So, if you want to feel calm and content when brushing your teeth before bed, painting your walls a soft pink could be the answer.
You could invest in pink basins, tiles, vinyl or wallpaper, and the good thing is the colour goes effortlessly well with so many other shades. For instance, it looks just as good juxtaposed with wood as it does with black or other colours like blue or grey.
Wallpaper
Wallpapers in bathrooms were considered a big faux pas until recently, as there are some top-quality coverings you can get now that won’t deteriorate with moisture.
The great thing about having a bold wallpaper in the bathroom is it can become the centrepiece, which means you can keep the vanity unit, tiles, floor and appliances relatively neutral. So if you wanted to change the look of the bathroom, you would only have to replace the wallpaper instead of updating the larger fixtures.
Bright wallpapers with bold prints are particularly well suited to small spaces, as they make a big statement in what would otherwise be a cloakroom.
Use the washroom to show off your personality and imagination to guests, as this is likely to be the bathroom they use.
Concealed designs
Homeowners want their appliances to be sleek and sophisticated in 2024. This means swapping your freestanding sink with a countertop one fitted on a vanity unit and with wall-mounted taps. This not only looks great but is easy to clean and provides ample storage, making use of the space underneath the sink.
Similarly, back-to-wall toilets will be popular instead of a one-piece toilet with a fitted cistern.
This allows homeowners to have more floor space in their bathroom, as well as looking more modern and minimalistic.
For showers, opt for concealed valves so you don’t have to see – or clean – all the tubes and pipes. This makes it more aesthetically pleasing and feels far more luxurious.